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precise requirements exactly when to start the run-in, how many officers will be needed and at what stage they would be physically located in the new Consulate General, will need careful consideration.
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The case for assuming responsibility for visa work well before 1997 is more clearcut. In practical terms doing this would enable staff of the BTC to iron out teething problems to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. There are also security considerations. It would be desirable for UK staff to be in a position to exercise control over entry clearances at what could be a politically sensitive time in Hong Kong, when there could be political pressures on HKID staff. It would also be preferable to control access to our more sensitive documents, such as the Visa Warning List and the Special Visa Directive, which we would not like to see fall into Chinese hands. The assumption of responsibilities previously carried out by HKID may mean that they will require less staff. If so we should certainly look at offering experienced locally engaged staff positions, on a selective basis. HKID have been told, and they have accepted, that the more senior posts of Entry Clearance Offices would have to be filled by UK based staff. But MVD are now considering the issues again. The HK Consultative Committee have asked for early discussion of the issues.
8. The immigration section would be rather less labour intensive than passport section, requiring some 11 UK based and 20 locally engaged staff members, as distinct from 3 UK and 69 locally engaged staff. There is space to cater for a further 45 additional staff in the passports section and for an additional 12 in the immigration section to meet the forecast increase in e.g. passport issue (forecast to rise from 100,000 issued in first 5 years post 1997 and 400,000 per annum in the following 5). The SOR lists the space requirements for the immigration and visa sections in the new building as around 6,400 sq feet (including public waiting areas). It would therefore prove an expensive business to consider taking on immigration work before the new building is completed. This suggests that we should plan to take on visa work as soon as the new building is operational, (which will be not/not before July 1996).
Commercial/Economic Work
9.
Commercial and economic work currently involve 60% of the Senior Trade Commissioner's time, (50% commercial, 10% economic), 55% of the DS4's time, one DS7, two LEIS and 3.5 LEIIIS. The schedule of requirements for the Consulate General envisages in addition one DS5, one DS7, 2 LEIS (one covering Southern China) 4 LEIIIS and one LEIV. In the current financial year Mr Day is in the process of recruiting a locally engaged commercial officer, at LEI. The Chairman of
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